perfect wedding reception. The tables were
draped in white and yellow linens from
Wallace Tent and Rental and topped with
table numbers and menus from Hullabaloo
Studios. Individually wrapped favors from
Robin's Chocolate Sauce were placed at each
place setting. Each jar of delectable fudge
was wrapped with a yellow ribbon and a
personalized tag. "Robin worked with us to
pick the flavors, wrapping, and design,"
Laura says. "The favors looked great on the
tables and were a huge hit!"
the blink of an eye the chairs for the cere-
mony were lined up, the arbor was deco-
rated, and more flowers than I thought was
possible were placed around the Harraseeket
Inn," Ellen says. "The wonderful staff acted
like wedding guests--they were truly
excited for us! It was magical."
cry. "It was more beautiful than I could have
imagined, and I knew how much work had
gone into every detail," Laura says. "The
thought that I was surrounded by my closest
friends and family and about to celebrate my
marriage to the love of my life in the most
beautiful setting was overwhelming. I had to
assure my flower girls that I was OK--that
they were happy tears."
gators. Even though he's is an avid hiker,
Laura couldn't believe her dad was wearing
gators on her wedding day. "I looked down
at his shoes and asked him if he was really
wearing those down the aisle," Laura says.
"He said, `Of course! It's the biggest hike of
your life!'"
me to officiate their wedding, I felt it was
Nolan's way of affirming my educational
path," Beth says. "I was honored to be
asked."
finishing up her degree. She also became a
notary to make sure Laura and Nolan's
wedding was absolutely legal. "Marrying
Nolan and Laura was one of the great joys of
my life," Beth says.
crowd as they read them aloud to each other.
"Nolan and I had a lot of practice writing to
room was a hit, thanks to the Bob charest Band and the
meal prepared by chef eric Flynn.
our vows and lifelong promises to each other
was a piece of cake!"
lights, and equipment for his band. "It's
impossible for me to describe how incred-
ible The Bob Charest Band was," Laura says.
"It was the most talked-about aspect of the
wedding and I still get compliments about
them. My flower girls, my friends, my
parents, and my grandparents danced all
night long. Their playlist was perfect and
there wasn't a single outdated cheesy
wedding song!" The band sang songs by
Frank Sinatra to Phil Collins to Adele. "My
favorite memory of the reception when the
band invited Nolan and I out on the floor for
a slow dance. They had everyone circle
around us while they picked up the tempo.
We stood there surrounded by our loved
ones who were dancing and singing and in
that moment, Nolan and I felt like the luck-
iest people in the world."
the Maine Photo Booth Company. "Our
guest book is full of crazy photo booth
pictures and is so fun to look through,"
Laura says. "People loved it!"
for a Maine honeymoon at the Bar Harbor
Inn, courtesy of Jane Grant at Dragonfly
Travel. Laura admits that it was nice to be on
their own schedule and not have to catch a
plane. "As soon as we checked in, a staff
member from the Bar Harbor Inn knocked
on our door with a bottle of champagne and
a beautiful framed picture of the inn for us
to keep," Laura says. They spent their vaca-
tion hiking, strolling around town, and
eating at fantastic local restaurants. "We
loved everything about our Bar Harbor
honeymoon and we can't wait to go back!"
where Nolan is stationed. "Our guests are
still telling us how much fun they had and
how happy we looked," Laura says. "Our
Maine wedding was truly the happiest day
of our lives. If we hadn't won the Real Maine
Wedding of the Year contest, we would have
waited to get married--and it would have
looked much different. Nolan and I still talk
about how incredible it was to be surrounded
by all of our loved ones at once, and that we
were able to celebrate our marriage in such
an extraordinary way."